In an uncertain economic context, Rail Freight Corridor North Sea - Med continues to deliver capacity for all international freight traffic. Thanks to the commitment of our members and the coordination provided by our C-OSS, we have successfully increased the volume of requested PaPs by 22% in 2023, despite the slightly lower offer for TimeTable 2024 (TT2024). Also, the overall punctuality on the Corridor increased by 2 % from 74% to 76% in 2023. Despite these positive results, we unfortunately did not manage to turn around the negative trend regarding the number of trains using our Corridor.
Thanks to the help of the C-OSS, our customers can more easily submit their requests in PCS. The rest of the Permanent Team is also dedicated to this customer-focus approach and assists our customers.
Furthermore, the Corridor elaborated and developed the concept of «Capacity Intelligence». We invite you to consult all the results on the dedicated webpage on our website.
Of course, we cannot talk about 2023 without mentioning the publication of the proposal for a Regulation on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area published by the European Commission in July 2023. Over the next few years, it will completely transform the landscape of capacity allocation within the Union.
Before that the changes brought by the Proposal will occur in the coming years, we will first be turning the page of RFC North Sea – Med, with the merge with the Rhine -Alpine. The North Sea - Rhine - Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor will be created, following the expected publication of the new TEN-T Regulation by June 2024.
The Rail Freight Corridor North Sea – Mediterranean Annual Report 2023 with full details, facts & figures, can be found using this link to our website:
As Robert Schuman - a great and convinced European - pointed out : “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity”.
Pending these developments, the Permanent Team, the members of the Executive Board and Management Board, in cooperation with the Terminal and Railway Undertaking Advisory Groups, will continue to offer train paths, coordinate track works and monitor performance in order to continue to facilitate international rail freight flows.
We wish you a pleasant reading of this document.
Valérie Verzele, Chair of the Executive Board of RFC NSM
Michaël Dierickx, Chair of the Assembly of the Management Baord of RFC NSM
Yann Le Floc’h, Managing Director of RFC NSM
